Chess Puzzle #8xNET — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen d3; rooks e1/f1; knight b3; pawns a2/b2/c3/f3/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen f6; rooks e5/h4; bishop b6; pawns a7/c7/d6/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxe5 — rook e1→e5, captures rook. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Rxh2+ — rook h4→h2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh2 (king h1→h2, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qh4# — queen f6→h4, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Qh4# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 7k/p1p3pp/1b1p1q2/4r3/7r/1NPQ1P2/PP4PP/4RR1K w - - 5 26

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